title: Viral vectors for gene therapy.
abstract: Gene therapy is now being applied to the treatment of wide variety of acquired and inherited diseases. One of the rate-limiting steps for successful gene therapy is the efficiency of gene transfer. A number of different viral systems are being developed for use as vectors for ex vivo and in vivo gene transfer, including retroviruses, adenoviruses, herpes-simplex viruses and adeno-associated viruses. These viral vectors have a number of specific advantages and disadvantages that make them suited to particular gene-therapeutic applications. This review will summarize the current status of the development of viral vectors for gene therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA 15261, USA. probb@pop.pitt.edu
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Robbins
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tahara
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Ghivizzani
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D000229:Dependovirus / Q000235:genetics; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics; D014780:Viruses / Q000235:genetics*